SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey said Monday that President Joe Biden could run a strong race and serve a second term in the White House, backing his staunch ally in the crucial state after a disastrous debate left some Democrats nationwide questioning his candidacy.
Casey had not said anything about Biden’s performance before making his first public appearance since Thursday night’s debate, which included a campaign rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the working-class city he shares with Biden and which the president mentioned by name during the debate.
Casey, who is also running for re-election in November, acknowledged that Biden had a poor debate but also indicated that voters have bigger concerns.
“He had a bad night and a bad debate, but I think people know what’s at stake,” Casey told reporters, arguing that voters are more concerned about issues like abortion, labor and voting rights and the fate of democracy.
“I’ve been working on this for a while and I know his work,” Casey said. “And I also know that the American people and the people of Pennsylvania are going to focus on these races in the way that I just outlined.”
Casey declined to elaborate on why he thinks Biden is qualified, saying he is not concerned that Biden’s debate performance would affect his own Senate race.
Together, they lead the ticket in a state crucial to the Democrats’ fate in retaining the White House and the Senate. No Democrat has won the White House without Pennsylvania’s support since Harry S. Truman in 1948.
Casey’s opponent, former hedge fund executive David McCormick, like other Republicans on lower ballots, has been playing on Biden’s record. He has accused Casey of lying about Biden’s fitness to be president and suggested that Biden’s Cabinet consider removing him from office, using the 25th Amendment.
The president’s performance at last week’s debate prompted many donors, party strategists and rank-and-file DNC members to say publicly and privately that they want the 81-year-old Biden to step aside so the party can select a younger replacement at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Biden spent the weekend steadying his campaign and then, as planned, gathered with his family at Camp David, where they discussed the way forward.
Biden and his team have called his performance in the debates an exception, saying one bad night shouldn’t define him or jeopardize the election.
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Follow Marc Levy on www.twitter.com/timelywriter.
